US20120008042A1 - Support structure and document projector using the same - Google Patents
Support structure and document projector using the same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120008042A1 US20120008042A1 US12/832,072 US83207210A US2012008042A1 US 20120008042 A1 US20120008042 A1 US 20120008042A1 US 83207210 A US83207210 A US 83207210A US 2012008042 A1 US2012008042 A1 US 2012008042A1
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- Prior art keywords
- joint
- cylindrical
- ball
- support structure
- cylindrical joint
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- Abandoned
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- 241000309551 Arthraxon hispidus Species 0.000 claims abstract description 70
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 10
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 7
- 244000261422 Lysimachia clethroides Species 0.000 description 5
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
- G03B21/54—Accessories
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
- F16M11/00—Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon Stands for scientific apparatus such as gravitational force meters
- F16M11/20—Undercarriages with or without wheels
- F16M11/24—Undercarriages with or without wheels changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each other
- F16M11/40—Undercarriages with or without wheels changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each other by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
- F16M2200/00—Details of stands or supports
- F16M2200/06—Arms
- F16M2200/065—Arms with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a support structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a support structure using cylindrical joints.
- a document projector instantly projects the image of an object onto a screen and does not need to make an image or a document file.
- the object placed on the shooting zone of a projector camera may be captured and projected on the screen instantly in the document projector.
- the document projector is a convenient aid for showing the current status of the object instantaneously.
- the degree of freedom for operating the document projector is provided by a rotating shaft or a hinge in a conventional document projector.
- a rotating shaft or a hinge in a conventional document projector.
- Some of the document projectors may use gooseneck support structure.
- the material of the gooseneck support structure is metal, which would increase the weight of the product.
- the degree of freedom of the metal gooseneck support structure is higher than the mechanism support structure with the hinge or rotating shaft, the metal gooseneck support structure made by twisting metal chains can not provide rotational degree of freedom.
- the metal gooseneck support structure may lack of steady support due to metal fatigue after a period of time.
- An aspect of the invention provides a support structure which includes plural cylindrical joints.
- Each cylindrical joint includes a cylindrical joint body having a wire channel for being passed through by a wire, a cylindrical joint head disposed on one end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel, a cylindrical joint socket disposed on another end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel, plural grooves disposed on the cylindrical joint head are arranged on opposite sides of the wire channel along a radial direction of the cylindrical joint head, and plural pins disposed on the cylindrical joint socket and arranged at opposites sides of the wire channel and touching the grooves.
- the cylindrical joints are connected one by one by coupling the cylindrical joint to the corresponding cylindrical joint socket and are rotated along the grooves and stopped by the pins.
- the material of the cylindrical joints is plastic.
- Another aspect of the invention provides a document projector using the support structure.
- a support structure which includes at least one cylindrical joint, at least one ball joint, and an adapter joint for connecting the cylindrical joint and the ball joint.
- Each cylindrical joint includes a cylindrical joint body having a wire channel for being passed through by a wire, a first cylindrical joint head disposed on one end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel, a first cylindrical joint socket disposed on another end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel, plural first grooves disposed on the first cylindrical joint head and arranged on opposite sides of the wire channel along a radial direction of the cylindrical joint head, and plural first pins disposed on the first cylindrical joint socket and arranged at opposites sides of the wire channel and touching the grooves.
- Each ball joint includes a ball joint body having the wire channel, a second ball joint head disposed on an end of the ball joint body and having the wire channel, a second ball joint socket disposed on another end of the ball joint body and having the wire channel, a second cavity disposed on an inner surface of the second ball joint socket; and a second protrusion disposed on an outer surface of the second ball joint head.
- the adapter joint includes an adapter joint body having the wire channel, a third cylindrical joint socket disposed on an end of the adapter joint body and having the wire channel and coupled to the first cylindrical joint head of the least one cylindrical joint, a third ball joint head disposed on another end of the adapter joint body and having the wire channel and coupled to the second ball joint socket of the least one ball joint, plural third pins disposed on the third cylindrical joint socket and touching the first grooves for positioning, and a third protrusion disposed on an outer surface of the third ball joint head and coupling to the second cavity for positioning.
- the material of the cylindrical joint, the ball joint, and the adapter joint is plastic.
- the protrusion has an arch edge.
- the number of the least one cylindrical joint and the least one ball joint can be plural, and the cylindrical joints are coupled one by one with coupling the first cylindrical joint heads to the first cylindrical joint sockets, and the ball joints are coupled one by one by coupling the second ball joint heads to the second ball joint sockets.
- the support structure further includes a base and a lower joint, wherein the lower joint connects the cylindrical joints and the base.
- the support structure further includes an electronic device and an upper joint, wherein the upper joint connects the ball joints and the electronic device.
- the support structure use the cylindrical joints, wherein the contact area between the cylindrical joint is larger than the contact area between the ball joints, therefore the friction force between the cylindrical joint head and the cylindrical joint socket is increased.
- the cylindrical joints may increase the rigidity of the support structure and prevents sway of the support structure.
- the support structure may include the ball joints and the cylindrical joints, wherein the cylindrical joints can provide the support structure better rigidity, and the ball joints can provide the support structure better degree of freedom during positioning.
- FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic diagrams of different states of a first embodiment of the support structure of the invention
- FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are oblique diagrams of the cylindrical joint 110 in FIG. 1B in different views;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a document projector using the support structure 100 in FIG. 1A ;
- FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the support structure of the invention.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a document projector using the support structure 300 of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic diagrams of different states of a first embodiment of the support structure of the invention.
- the support structure 100 includes plural cylindrical joints 110 , and the cylindrical joints 110 are coupled one by one to form the support structure 100 .
- Each cylindrical joint 110 includes a cylindrical joint body 120 , a cylindrical joint head 130 disposed on an end of the cylindrical joint body 120 , and a cylindrical joint socket 140 disposed on another end of the cylindrical joint body 120 .
- the cylindrical joints 120 are coupled one by one by coupling the cylindrical joint heads 130 to the cylindrical joint sockets 140 respectively.
- the two neighbor cylindrical joints 110 can be rotated along a radial direction of the cylindrical joint head 130 and the cylindrical joint socket 140 .
- the support structure 100 is a hollow structure.
- a wire 160 can pass through the support structure 100 .
- the cylindrical joint body 120 , the cylindrical joint head 130 and the cylindrical joint socket 140 have a wire channel 150 , therefore the support structure 100 formed by coupling the cylindrical joints 110 would have the wire channel 150 for being passed through by the wire 160 .
- the material of the support structure 100 can be plastic.
- the weight of the support structure 100 using the plastic material is lighter than the weight of using metal material, thus the total weight of the product can be reduced and prevent metal fatigue.
- the cylindrical joints 110 are designed to be rotated along the radial direction of the cylindrical joint heads 130 and the cylindrical joint sockets 140 . Though the rotational degree of freedom is limited, the is rigidity of the support structure 100 can be highly increased and prevent the sway of the support structure 100 .
- FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are oblique diagrams of the cylindrical joint 110 in FIG. 1B in different views.
- the cylindrical joint 110 includes the cylindrical joint body 120 , and the cylindrical joint head 130 and the cylindrical joint socket 140 disposed on opposite ends of the cylindrical joint body 110 .
- the cylindrical joint body 110 , the cylindrical joint head 130 , and the cylindrical joint socket 140 have the wire channel 150 .
- the sectional shape of the cylindrical joint head 130 is a circle or an ellipse.
- the sectional shape of the cylindrical joint socket 140 is a circle or an ellipse.
- the wire channel 150 is perpendicular to the axial direction of the cylindrical joint head 130 and the cylindrical joint socket 140 .
- the cylindrical joint head 130 is coupled to the cylindrical joint socket 140 for connecting the cylindrical joints 110 .
- the cylindrical joints 110 would be rotated along the radial direction of the cylindrical joint head 130 and the cylindrical joint socket 140 .
- the cylindrical joint 110 further includes plural grooves 170 disposed on the cylindrical joint head 130 , and plural pins 180 disposed on the cylindrical joint socket 140 .
- the grooves 170 are arranged along the radial direction of the cylindrical joint head 130 and arranged at opposite sides of the wire channel 150 .
- the pins 180 are disposed on opposite sides of the wire channel 150 and corresponding to the grooves 170 .
- the width of the cylindrical joint socket 140 is slightly smaller than the width of the cylindrical joint head 130 , therefore the cylindrical joint head 130 would not be easily pulled out from the cylindrical joint socket 140 when the cylindrical joint head 130 is inserted into the cylindrical joint socket 140 .
- the inner radius of the cylindrical joint socket 140 is approximately the same as the outer radius of the cylindrical joint head 130 .
- the cylindrical joints 110 are positioned by the friction force between the cylindrical joint head 130 and the cylindrical joint socket 140 .
- the pins 180 would touch the corresponding grooves 170 when the two cylindrical joints 110 couple to each other.
- the cylindrical joints 110 are rotated along the path of the grooves 170 and stopped when the pins 180 touch the ends of the grooves 170 .
- the cylindrical joints 110 are rotated along the radial direction of the cylindrical joint head 130 and the cylindrical joint socket 140 .
- the rotary angle of the cylindrical joints 110 are decided by the length of the grooves 170 .
- FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a document projector using the support structure 100 in FIG. 1A .
- the document projector 200 includes a base 210 , an image capturing device 220 , and the support structure for connecting the base 210 to the image capturing device 220 .
- the support structure 100 is formed by coupling plural cylindrical joints 110 .
- the support structure 100 further includes a lower joint 190 to connect the base 210 and one of the cylindrical joints 110 .
- the support structure 100 further includes an upper joint 192 to connect the image capturing device 220 and one of the cylindrical joint 110 .
- the cylindrical joints 110 of the support structure 100 can be rotated along the predetermined direction to change the position of the image capturing device 220 .
- FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the support structure of the invention.
- the support structure 300 can be fastened on a base to support electronic device.
- the support structure 300 includes at least one cylindrical joint 310 , at least one ball joint 320 , and an adapter joint 330 to connect the least one cylindrical joint 310 and the least one ball joint 320 .
- the cylindrical joint 310 includes a cylindrical joint body 312 , a first cylindrical joint head 314 disposed on an end of the cylindrical joint body 312 , and a first cylindrical joint socket 316 disposed on another end of the cylindrical joint body 312 .
- the cylindrical joint body 312 , the first cylindrical joint head 314 and the cylindrical joint socket 316 have the wire channel 340 .
- the width of the opening of the cylindrical joint socket 316 is slightly smaller than the width of the first cylindrical joint head 314 to prevent the first cylindrical joint head 314 departing from the first cylindrical joint socket 316 when two cylindrical joints 310 are coupled.
- the cylindrical joint 310 further includes plural grooves 311 disposed on the first cylindrical joint head 314 .
- the first grooves 311 are disposed on opposite sides of the wire channel 340 .
- the cylindrical joint 310 further includes plural first pins (see FIG. 2B ) disposed inside of the first cylindrical joint socket 316 and disposed on opposite sides of the wire channel 340 .
- the first pins disposed on the first cylindrical joint socket 316 would touch the first grooves 311 disposed on the first cylindrical joint head 314 for positioning when two cylindrical joints 310 are coupled, and the rotary angle of the cylindrical joints 310 is limited by the first grooves 311 .
- the ball joint 320 includes a ball joint body 322 , a second ball joint head 324 disposed on an end of the ball joint body 322 , and a second ball joint socket 326 disposed on another end of the ball joint body 322 .
- the width of the second ball joint socket 326 is slightly smaller than the width of the second ball joint head 324 to prevent the second ball joint head 324 departing from the second ball joint socket 326 when two ball joints 320 are coupled.
- the ball joints 320 can be positioned by the friction force between the second ball joint heads 324 and the second ball joint sockets 326 .
- the ball joint body 322 , the second ball joint head 324 , and the second ball joint socket 326 have the wire channel 340 .
- the ball joint 320 further includes a second cavity 321 disposed on the inner surface of the second ball joint socket 326 , and a second protrusion 323 disposed on the outer surface of the ball joint head 324 .
- the second protrusion 323 is located in the second cavity 321 when coupling two ball joints 320 .
- the rotary angle of the ball joint 320 is limited when the second protrusion 323 touches the edge of the second cavity 321 , therefore the ball joint 320 would not be over rotated at the Z direction, which is parallel to the wire channel 340 .
- the adapter joint 330 is used to connect the cylindrical joint 310 and the ball joint 320 .
- the adapter joint 330 includes a adapter joint body 332 , a third ball joint head 334 disposed on an end of the adapter joint body 332 , and a third cylindrical joint socket 336 disposed on another end of the adapter joint body 332 .
- the adapter joint body 332 , the third ball joint head 334 , and the third cylindrical joint socket 336 have the wire channel 340 .
- the third cylindrical joint socket 336 is coupled to the first cylindrical joint head 314 to connect the adapter joint 330 and the cylindrical joint 310 .
- the third ball joint head 334 is coupled to the second ball joint socket 326 to connect the adapter joint and the ball joint 320 .
- the adapter joint 330 further includes plural third pins (see FIG. 2B ) disposed on the third cylindrical joint socket 336 .
- the third pins would touch the first grooves 311 when the adapter joint 330 couples to the corresponding cylindrical joint 310 to restrict the rotary angle between the adapter joint 330 and the cylindrical joint 310 .
- the adapter joint 330 further includes a third protrusion 333 disposed on the third ball joint head 334 .
- the third protrusion 333 would touch the second cavity 321 when the adapter joint 330 couples to the corresponding ball joint 320 to restrict the rotary angle between the adapter joint 330 and the ball joint 320 .
- FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a document projector using the support structure 300 of FIG. 4 .
- the document projector 400 includes a base 410 , the support structure 300 , and an image capturing device 420 .
- the support structure 300 includes plural cylindrical joints 310 , plural ball joints 320 , and an adapter joint 330 for connecting the cylindrical joints 310 and the ball joins 320 .
- the support structure 300 further includes an upper joint 350 and a lower joint 360 .
- the lower joint 360 connects the base 410 and one of the cylindrical joints 310 .
- the upper joint 350 connects the image capturing device 420 and one of the ball joints 320 .
- the cylindrical joints 310 of the support structure 300 are arranged close to the base 410 .
- the contact area between the cylindrical joints 310 is larger than the contact area between the ball joints 320 ; therefore the friction force between the cylindrical joints 310 is larger than the friction force between the ball joints 320 .
- the cylindrical joints 310 can be rotated in a single direction, i.e. the radial direction of the cylindrical joint head and the cylindrical joint socket. Thus the rigidity of the support structure 300 can be increased by the cylindrical joints 310 and the sway of the support structure 300 can be avoided.
- the ball joints 320 with higher degree of freedom are arranged close to the image capturing device 420 to easily adjust the position of the image capturing device 420 when the document projector 400 is operated.
Abstract
A support structure is disclosed, which includes plural cylindrical joints. Each cylindrical joint includes a cylindrical joint body having a wire channel for being passed through by a wire, a cylindrical joint head disposed on one end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel, a cylindrical joint socket disposed on another end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel The cylindrical joints are connected one by one by coupling the cylindrical joint to the corresponding cylindrical joint socket and are rotated along the radial direction of the cylindrical joint head.
Description
- 1. Field of Invention
- The present invention relates to a support structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a support structure using cylindrical joints.
- 2. Description of Related Art
- A document projector instantly projects the image of an object onto a screen and does not need to make an image or a document file. The object placed on the shooting zone of a projector camera may be captured and projected on the screen instantly in the document projector. Thus, the document projector is a convenient aid for showing the current status of the object instantaneously.
- The degree of freedom for operating the document projector is provided by a rotating shaft or a hinge in a conventional document projector. However, there may be more than one rotating shaft or hinge arranged in the conventional document projector to provide multiple degrees of freedom, and that would take a lot of space in the document projector and be expensive. Some of the document projectors may use gooseneck support structure. However, the material of the gooseneck support structure is metal, which would increase the weight of the product. Even though the degree of freedom of the metal gooseneck support structure is higher than the mechanism support structure with the hinge or rotating shaft, the metal gooseneck support structure made by twisting metal chains can not provide rotational degree of freedom. The metal gooseneck support structure may lack of steady support due to metal fatigue after a period of time.
- An aspect of the invention provides a support structure which includes plural cylindrical joints. Each cylindrical joint includes a cylindrical joint body having a wire channel for being passed through by a wire, a cylindrical joint head disposed on one end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel, a cylindrical joint socket disposed on another end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel, plural grooves disposed on the cylindrical joint head are arranged on opposite sides of the wire channel along a radial direction of the cylindrical joint head, and plural pins disposed on the cylindrical joint socket and arranged at opposites sides of the wire channel and touching the grooves. The cylindrical joints are connected one by one by coupling the cylindrical joint to the corresponding cylindrical joint socket and are rotated along the grooves and stopped by the pins. The material of the cylindrical joints is plastic.
- Another aspect of the invention provides a document projector using the support structure.
- Another aspect of the invention provides a support structure, which includes at least one cylindrical joint, at least one ball joint, and an adapter joint for connecting the cylindrical joint and the ball joint. Each cylindrical joint includes a cylindrical joint body having a wire channel for being passed through by a wire, a first cylindrical joint head disposed on one end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel, a first cylindrical joint socket disposed on another end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel, plural first grooves disposed on the first cylindrical joint head and arranged on opposite sides of the wire channel along a radial direction of the cylindrical joint head, and plural first pins disposed on the first cylindrical joint socket and arranged at opposites sides of the wire channel and touching the grooves. Each ball joint includes a ball joint body having the wire channel, a second ball joint head disposed on an end of the ball joint body and having the wire channel, a second ball joint socket disposed on another end of the ball joint body and having the wire channel, a second cavity disposed on an inner surface of the second ball joint socket; and a second protrusion disposed on an outer surface of the second ball joint head. The adapter joint includes an adapter joint body having the wire channel, a third cylindrical joint socket disposed on an end of the adapter joint body and having the wire channel and coupled to the first cylindrical joint head of the least one cylindrical joint, a third ball joint head disposed on another end of the adapter joint body and having the wire channel and coupled to the second ball joint socket of the least one ball joint, plural third pins disposed on the third cylindrical joint socket and touching the first grooves for positioning, and a third protrusion disposed on an outer surface of the third ball joint head and coupling to the second cavity for positioning. The material of the cylindrical joint, the ball joint, and the adapter joint is plastic. The protrusion has an arch edge. The number of the least one cylindrical joint and the least one ball joint can be plural, and the cylindrical joints are coupled one by one with coupling the first cylindrical joint heads to the first cylindrical joint sockets, and the ball joints are coupled one by one by coupling the second ball joint heads to the second ball joint sockets. The support structure further includes a base and a lower joint, wherein the lower joint connects the cylindrical joints and the base. The support structure further includes an electronic device and an upper joint, wherein the upper joint connects the ball joints and the electronic device.
- The support structure use the cylindrical joints, wherein the contact area between the cylindrical joint is larger than the contact area between the ball joints, therefore the friction force between the cylindrical joint head and the cylindrical joint socket is increased. The cylindrical joints may increase the rigidity of the support structure and prevents sway of the support structure. The support structure may include the ball joints and the cylindrical joints, wherein the cylindrical joints can provide the support structure better rigidity, and the ball joints can provide the support structure better degree of freedom during positioning.
- It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
- The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,
-
FIG. 1A andFIG. 1B are schematic diagrams of different states of a first embodiment of the support structure of the invention; -
FIG. 2A andFIG. 2B are oblique diagrams of thecylindrical joint 110 inFIG. 1B in different views; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a document projector using thesupport structure 100 inFIG. 1A ; -
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the support structure of the invention; and -
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a document projector using thesupport structure 300 ofFIG. 4 . - Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
- Refer to
FIG. 1A andFIG. 1B .FIG. 1A andFIG. 1B are schematic diagrams of different states of a first embodiment of the support structure of the invention. Thesupport structure 100 includes pluralcylindrical joints 110, and thecylindrical joints 110 are coupled one by one to form thesupport structure 100. Eachcylindrical joint 110 includes acylindrical joint body 120, acylindrical joint head 130 disposed on an end of thecylindrical joint body 120, and acylindrical joint socket 140 disposed on another end of thecylindrical joint body 120. Thecylindrical joints 120 are coupled one by one by coupling thecylindrical joint heads 130 to thecylindrical joint sockets 140 respectively. The two neighborcylindrical joints 110 can be rotated along a radial direction of thecylindrical joint head 130 and thecylindrical joint socket 140. - The
support structure 100 is a hollow structure. Awire 160 can pass through thesupport structure 100. More particularly, the cylindricaljoint body 120, the cylindricaljoint head 130 and the cylindricaljoint socket 140 have awire channel 150, therefore thesupport structure 100 formed by coupling thecylindrical joints 110 would have thewire channel 150 for being passed through by thewire 160. - The material of the
support structure 100 can be plastic. The weight of thesupport structure 100 using the plastic material is lighter than the weight of using metal material, thus the total weight of the product can be reduced and prevent metal fatigue. Thecylindrical joints 110 are designed to be rotated along the radial direction of the cylindricaljoint heads 130 and the cylindricaljoint sockets 140. Though the rotational degree of freedom is limited, the is rigidity of thesupport structure 100 can be highly increased and prevent the sway of thesupport structure 100. - Refer to
FIG. 2A andFIG. 2B .FIG. 2A andFIG. 2B are oblique diagrams of the cylindrical joint 110 inFIG. 1B in different views. The cylindrical joint 110 includes the cylindricaljoint body 120, and the cylindricaljoint head 130 and the cylindricaljoint socket 140 disposed on opposite ends of the cylindricaljoint body 110. The cylindricaljoint body 110, the cylindricaljoint head 130, and the cylindricaljoint socket 140 have thewire channel 150. The sectional shape of the cylindricaljoint head 130 is a circle or an ellipse. The sectional shape of the cylindricaljoint socket 140 is a circle or an ellipse. Thewire channel 150 is perpendicular to the axial direction of the cylindricaljoint head 130 and the cylindricaljoint socket 140. The cylindricaljoint head 130 is coupled to the cylindricaljoint socket 140 for connecting thecylindrical joints 110. Thecylindrical joints 110 would be rotated along the radial direction of the cylindricaljoint head 130 and the cylindricaljoint socket 140. - The cylindrical joint 110 further includes
plural grooves 170 disposed on the cylindricaljoint head 130, andplural pins 180 disposed on the cylindricaljoint socket 140. Thegrooves 170 are arranged along the radial direction of the cylindricaljoint head 130 and arranged at opposite sides of thewire channel 150. Thepins 180 are disposed on opposite sides of thewire channel 150 and corresponding to thegrooves 170. - The width of the cylindrical
joint socket 140 is slightly smaller than the width of the cylindricaljoint head 130, therefore the cylindricaljoint head 130 would not be easily pulled out from the cylindricaljoint socket 140 when the cylindricaljoint head 130 is inserted into the cylindricaljoint socket 140. The inner radius of the cylindricaljoint socket 140 is approximately the same as the outer radius of the cylindricaljoint head 130. Thecylindrical joints 110 are positioned by the friction force between the cylindricaljoint head 130 and the cylindricaljoint socket 140. - The
pins 180 would touch the correspondinggrooves 170 when the twocylindrical joints 110 couple to each other. Thecylindrical joints 110 are rotated along the path of thegrooves 170 and stopped when thepins 180 touch the ends of thegrooves 170. Thus thecylindrical joints 110 are rotated along the radial direction of the cylindricaljoint head 130 and the cylindricaljoint socket 140. The rotary angle of thecylindrical joints 110 are decided by the length of thegrooves 170. - Refer to
FIG. 3 .FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a document projector using thesupport structure 100 inFIG. 1A . Thedocument projector 200 includes abase 210, animage capturing device 220, and the support structure for connecting the base 210 to theimage capturing device 220. Thesupport structure 100 is formed by coupling pluralcylindrical joints 110. Thesupport structure 100 further includes a lower joint 190 to connect thebase 210 and one of thecylindrical joints 110. Thesupport structure 100 further includes an upper joint 192 to connect theimage capturing device 220 and one of the cylindrical joint 110. Thecylindrical joints 110 of thesupport structure 100 can be rotated along the predetermined direction to change the position of theimage capturing device 220. - Refer to
FIG. 4 .FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the support structure of the invention. Thesupport structure 300 can be fastened on a base to support electronic device. Thesupport structure 300 includes at least one cylindrical joint 310, at least one ball joint 320, and an adapter joint 330 to connect the least one cylindrical joint 310 and the least one ball joint 320. - The cylindrical joint 310 includes a cylindrical
joint body 312, a first cylindricaljoint head 314 disposed on an end of the cylindricaljoint body 312, and a first cylindricaljoint socket 316 disposed on another end of the cylindricaljoint body 312. The cylindricaljoint body 312, the first cylindricaljoint head 314 and the cylindricaljoint socket 316 have thewire channel 340. The width of the opening of the cylindricaljoint socket 316 is slightly smaller than the width of the first cylindricaljoint head 314 to prevent the first cylindricaljoint head 314 departing from the first cylindricaljoint socket 316 when twocylindrical joints 310 are coupled. - The cylindrical joint 310 further includes
plural grooves 311 disposed on the first cylindricaljoint head 314. Thefirst grooves 311 are disposed on opposite sides of thewire channel 340. The cylindrical joint 310 further includes plural first pins (seeFIG. 2B ) disposed inside of the first cylindricaljoint socket 316 and disposed on opposite sides of thewire channel 340. The first pins disposed on the first cylindricaljoint socket 316 would touch thefirst grooves 311 disposed on the first cylindricaljoint head 314 for positioning when twocylindrical joints 310 are coupled, and the rotary angle of thecylindrical joints 310 is limited by thefirst grooves 311. - The ball joint 320 includes a ball
joint body 322, a second balljoint head 324 disposed on an end of the balljoint body 322, and a second balljoint socket 326 disposed on another end of the balljoint body 322. The width of the second balljoint socket 326 is slightly smaller than the width of the second balljoint head 324 to prevent the second balljoint head 324 departing from the second balljoint socket 326 when twoball joints 320 are coupled. The ball joints 320 can be positioned by the friction force between the second balljoint heads 324 and the second balljoint sockets 326. The balljoint body 322, the second balljoint head 324, and the second balljoint socket 326 have thewire channel 340. - In order to prevent the wire in the
wire channel 340 from being damaged due to over rotary, the ball joint 320 further includes asecond cavity 321 disposed on the inner surface of the second balljoint socket 326, and asecond protrusion 323 disposed on the outer surface of the balljoint head 324. Thesecond protrusion 323 is located in thesecond cavity 321 when coupling two ball joints 320. The rotary angle of the ball joint 320 is limited when thesecond protrusion 323 touches the edge of thesecond cavity 321, therefore the ball joint 320 would not be over rotated at the Z direction, which is parallel to thewire channel 340. - In order to rotate the ball joints 320 smoothly, the
second protrusion 323 can have an arch edge; therefore the second balljoint head 324 can move smoothly in the second balljoint socket 326 when the ball joint 320 is rotated. Unlike the rotary angle of the ball joints at the Z direction is limited by thesecond protrusion 323 touching thesecond cavity 321, the rotary angle of the ball joints 320 at the X an Y direction is not limited. - The
adapter joint 330 is used to connect the cylindrical joint 310 and the ball joint 320. Theadapter joint 330 includes a adapter joint body 332, a third balljoint head 334 disposed on an end of the adapter joint body 332, and a third cylindricaljoint socket 336 disposed on another end of the adapter joint body 332. The adapter joint body 332, the third balljoint head 334, and the third cylindricaljoint socket 336 have thewire channel 340. The third cylindricaljoint socket 336 is coupled to the first cylindricaljoint head 314 to connect theadapter joint 330 and the cylindrical joint 310. The third balljoint head 334 is coupled to the second balljoint socket 326 to connect the adapter joint and the ball joint 320. - The adapter joint 330 further includes plural third pins (see
FIG. 2B ) disposed on the third cylindricaljoint socket 336. The third pins would touch thefirst grooves 311 when the adapter joint 330 couples to the corresponding cylindrical joint 310 to restrict the rotary angle between theadapter joint 330 and the cylindrical joint 310. The adapter joint 330 further includes athird protrusion 333 disposed on the third balljoint head 334. Thethird protrusion 333 would touch thesecond cavity 321 when the adapter joint 330 couples to the corresponding ball joint 320 to restrict the rotary angle between theadapter joint 330 and the ball joint 320. - Refer to
FIG. 5 .FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a document projector using thesupport structure 300 ofFIG. 4 . Thedocument projector 400 includes abase 410, thesupport structure 300, and animage capturing device 420. Thesupport structure 300 includes pluralcylindrical joints 310, plural ball joints 320, and anadapter joint 330 for connecting thecylindrical joints 310 and the ball joins 320. Thesupport structure 300 further includes an upper joint 350 and a lower joint 360. The lower joint 360 connects thebase 410 and one of thecylindrical joints 310. The upper joint 350 connects theimage capturing device 420 and one of the ball joints 320. - The
cylindrical joints 310 of thesupport structure 300 are arranged close to thebase 410. The contact area between thecylindrical joints 310 is larger than the contact area between the ball joints 320; therefore the friction force between thecylindrical joints 310 is larger than the friction force between the ball joints 320. Thecylindrical joints 310 can be rotated in a single direction, i.e. the radial direction of the cylindrical joint head and the cylindrical joint socket. Thus the rigidity of thesupport structure 300 can be increased by thecylindrical joints 310 and the sway of thesupport structure 300 can be avoided. The ball joints 320 with higher degree of freedom are arranged close to theimage capturing device 420 to easily adjust the position of theimage capturing device 420 when thedocument projector 400 is operated. - Accordingly, the present invention provided the following advantages. The support structure use the cylindrical joints, wherein the contact area between the cylindrical joints is larger than the contact area between the ball joints, therefore the friction force between the cylindrical joint head and the cylindrical joint socket is increased. The cylindrical joints may increase the rigidity of the support structure and prevent sway of the support structure. The support structure may include the ball joints and the cylindrical joints, wherein the cylindrical joints can provide the support structure better rigidity, and the ball joints can provide the support structure better degree of freedom during positioning.
- Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.
- It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims (10)
1. A support structure comprising a plurality of cylindrical joints, each cylindrical joint comprising:
a cylindrical joint body having a wire channel for being passed through by a wire;
a cylindrical joint head disposed on one end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel;
a cylindrical joint socket disposed on another end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel, wherein the cylindrical joint socket is coupled to another cylindrical joint head;
a plurality of grooves disposed on the cylindrical joint head, wherein the grooves are arranged on opposite sides of the wire channel along a radial direction of the cylindrical joint head; and
a plurality of pins disposed on the cylindrical joint socket and arranged at opposites sides of the wire channel and touching the grooves,
thereby the cylindrical joints are connected one by one and are rotated along the grooves and stopped by the pins.
2. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the material of the cylindrical joints is plastic.
3. A support structure comprising:
at least one cylindrical joint, each of the least one cylindrical joint comprising:
a cylindrical joint body having a wire channel for being passed through by a wire;
a first cylindrical joint head disposed on one end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel;
a first cylindrical joint socket disposed on another end of the cylindrical joint body and having the wire channel;
a plurality of first grooves disposed on the first cylindrical joint head, wherein the first grooves are arranged on opposite sides of the wire channel along a radial direction of the cylindrical joint head; and
a plurality of first pins disposed on the first cylindrical joint socket and arranged at opposites sides of the wire channel and touching the grooves;
at least one ball joint, each of the least one ball joint comprising:
a ball joint body having the wire channel;
a second ball joint head disposed on an end of the ball joint body and having the wire channel;
a second ball joint socket disposed on another end of the ball joint body and having the wire channel;
a second cavity disposed on an inner surface of the second ball joint socket; and
a second protrusion disposed on an outer surface of the second ball joint head; and
an adapter joint for connecting the least one cylindrical joint and the least one ball joint, the adapter joint comprising:
an adapter joint body having the wire channel;
a third cylindrical joint socket disposed on an end of the adapter joint body and having the wire channel, wherein the third cylindrical joint socket is coupled to the first cylindrical joint head of the least one cylindrical joint;
a third ball joint head disposed on another end of the adapter joint body and having the wire channel, wherein the third ball joint head is coupled to the second ball joint socket of the least one ball joint;
a plurality of third pins disposed on the third cylindrical joint socket and touching the first grooves for positioning; and
a third protrusion disposed on an outer surface of the third ball joint head and coupling to the second cavity for positioning.
4. The supporting structure of claim 3 , wherein the material of the least one cylindrical joint, the least one ball joint, and the adapter joint is plastic.
5. The supporting structure of claim 3 , wherein the protrusion has an arch edge.
6. The supporting structure of claim 3 , wherein the number of the least one cylindrical joint and the least one ball joint is plural, and the cylindrical joints are coupled one by one with coupling the first cylindrical joint heads to the first cylindrical joint sockets, and the ball joints are coupled one by one by coupling the second ball joint heads to the second ball joint sockets.
7. The support structure of claim 6 , further comprising a base and a lower joint, wherein the lower joint connects the cylindrical joints and the base.
8. The support structure of claim 6 , further comprising an electronic device and an upper joint, wherein the upper joint connects the ball joints and the electronic device.
9. A document projector using the support structure of claim 1 , the document projector comprising:
a base;
an image capturing device; and
the support structure, wherein the support structure further comprises a lower joint for connecting one of the cylindrical joints and the base, and an upper joint for connecting one of the cylindrical joints and the image capturing device.
10. A document projector using the support structure of claim 3 , the document projector comprising:
a base;
an image capturing device; and
the support structure, wherein the support structure further comprises a lower joint for connecting the least one cylindrical joint and the base, and an upper joint for connecting the least one ball joint and the image capturing device.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/832,072 US20120008042A1 (en) | 2010-07-08 | 2010-07-08 | Support structure and document projector using the same |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/832,072 US20120008042A1 (en) | 2010-07-08 | 2010-07-08 | Support structure and document projector using the same |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20120008042A1 true US20120008042A1 (en) | 2012-01-12 |
Family
ID=45438335
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/832,072 Abandoned US20120008042A1 (en) | 2010-07-08 | 2010-07-08 | Support structure and document projector using the same |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20120008042A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2015006848A1 (en) * | 2013-07-15 | 2015-01-22 | Meditech International Inc. | Flexible light treatment head |
US9597526B2 (en) * | 2012-01-20 | 2017-03-21 | Meditech International Inc. | Flexible light treatment head |
US9736342B2 (en) | 2012-10-19 | 2017-08-15 | Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation | Visual inspection device |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3584822A (en) * | 1968-02-26 | 1971-06-15 | John A Oram | Flexible columns |
US20020176057A1 (en) * | 2001-03-19 | 2002-11-28 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Low profile overhead projector having a foldable post |
-
2010
- 2010-07-08 US US12/832,072 patent/US20120008042A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3584822A (en) * | 1968-02-26 | 1971-06-15 | John A Oram | Flexible columns |
US20020176057A1 (en) * | 2001-03-19 | 2002-11-28 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Low profile overhead projector having a foldable post |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9597526B2 (en) * | 2012-01-20 | 2017-03-21 | Meditech International Inc. | Flexible light treatment head |
US9736342B2 (en) | 2012-10-19 | 2017-08-15 | Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation | Visual inspection device |
US10477079B2 (en) | 2012-10-19 | 2019-11-12 | Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation | Visual inspection device |
US11082589B2 (en) | 2012-10-19 | 2021-08-03 | Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation | Visual inspection device |
WO2015006848A1 (en) * | 2013-07-15 | 2015-01-22 | Meditech International Inc. | Flexible light treatment head |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AVERMEDIA INFORMATION, INC., TAIWAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WANG, YO-JUNG;HSIA, MING-HUNG;LEE, CHEN-CHENG;REEL/FRAME:024663/0393 Effective date: 20100701 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AVER INFORMATION INC., TAIWAN Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:AVERMEDIA INFORMATION, INC.;REEL/FRAME:027439/0087 Effective date: 20080110 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |